Views of the Late Roman period in England have changed considerably in the past few years, with a tendency towards acceptance of a survival or resurgence of economic and political organization despite earlier decline. Traditional evidence provides some insights into the differential nature of these changes. Here it is argued that ‘environmental’ (in this case biological) evidence can provide unique insights into economic systems, and that bones and insects from late 4th-century AD Lincoln indicate continuity of complex systems into this period.

Jones, A.K.G.1988. Fish bones from excavations in the cemetery of St Mary Bishophill Junior, pp. 126–31 in O’Connor, T.P., Bones from the General Accident Site, Tanner Row, The Archaeology of York15(2): 61–136. London: Council for British Archaeology.